BY FRED ECKHARD, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
Monday, 16 November 1998
IRAQ
In consultation with the Security Council, Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a letter to President Saddam Hussein on Friday evening repeating his public appeal to Iraq to come back into compliance with Security Council resolutions. That public appeal -- made in Marrakesh, Morocco on 11 November -- had been endorsed by the Council.
On Saturday morning, Iraq's Ambassador to the United Nations, Nizar Hamdoon, delivered to the Secretary-General a response signed by Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. In that letter, Mr. Aziz announced Iraq's decision to resume working with the UN weapons inspectors on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretary-General and Iraq signed last February. The Secretary-General described the letter as a positive development.
The Security Council met Saturday evening, and a number of members sought clarifications of the wording of Mr. Aziz's letter. These were provided in writing by Ambassador Hamdoon. The Council took no action when it adjourned late Saturday night. The Secretary-General had telephone contact with the United States and Iraq through the night.
The Secretary-General described as "statesmanlike" President Clinton's announcement that the United States would delay military action following Iraq's recommitment to complete compliance and said that the entire international community would welcome his decision.
Remarks made by Tariq Aziz on Sunday raised new questions among some members as to whether he had stated reservations to his letter to the Secretary-General of Saturday morning. The President of the Council asked the Secretary-General to seek clarifications. He did this in a telephone call to Tariq Aziz, and submitted to Council Members a report summarizing that phone conversation.
Later Sunday, the Security Council noted Iraq's decision and thanked the Secretary-General for his efforts. The Executive Director of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) Richard Butler said he would send his weapons inspectors back to Iraq on Tuesday. The head of the UN Iraq Program, Benon Sevan, announced the return to Iraq of UN humanitarian workers on Monday.
The Secretary-General on Sunday described the outcome as "a victory for diplomacy and resolve." Asked if this agreement would work, he said he could give no guarantees. "I'm not sure that if there is a next time," he added, "we would even have time for further diplomatic initiatives and appeals."
"...I have a mandate, I have a conscience, and, above all, I believe fervently in the Charter and the ideals of the United Nations, and that is what guides me," the Secretary-General said.
UNSCOM inspectors are expected to begin resuming their duties on Wednesday.
The first of 150 humanitarian workers arrived in Baghdad on Monday on a UN flight from Amman, Jordan. The independent inspection agents who certify the arrival of humanitarian supplies into Iraq were back at work Monday at three of four border crossing points.
